Boundary or alert barking is a ‘normal’ behaviour for dogs – it’s kind of what they do! However, it isn’t appropriate for this to be excessive because that drives everyone to distraction, not just you and your neighbours, but your dogs too. If they are constantly on watch duty, they will have regular spikes of excitement when people pass by; heightened vigilance means regular surges of adrenaline. Without time for this hormone to subside with rest, your dogs aren’t doing their stress levels any favours. So, it’s definitely something to resolve for everyone’s sake.
It’s really common for owners to raise their voices at their dogs when they bark and, as you’ve discovered, it really doesn’t help. It just adds to the commotion, confirming to the dogs that they’re doing the right thing in making a lot of noise.
The first, and simplest, thing to do is to restrict their access to the front window. Frosted windows, blinds or locating your dogs in another room, can help. The less they get to repeat the barking, the better. Next, you need to change what you do if they bark – as I said, it is normal for a little woof if strangers are approaching, so acknowledge them calmly and then give them something to do.
The trickiest bit is teaching them the all-important ‘settle’. To teach your dogs to go to their beds and settle, begin when there are no distractions around. Use treats to get them to their bed and gradually increase the length of time you ask them to settle there. Provide long duration edibles, such as stuffed Kongs, to ensure they really enjoy being in their beds. They will probably appreciate the rest after being on watch duty for all this time!
It’s really common for owners to raise their voices at their dogs when they bark and, as you’ve discovered, it really doesn’t help. It just adds to the commotion, confirming to the dogs that they’re doing the right thing in making a lot of noise.
The first, and simplest, thing to do is to restrict their access to the front window. Frosted windows, blinds or locating your dogs in another room, can help. The less they get to repeat the barking, the better. Next, you need to change what you do if they bark – as I said, it is normal for a little woof if strangers are approaching, so acknowledge them calmly and then give them something to do.
The trickiest bit is teaching them the all-important ‘settle’. To teach your dogs to go to their beds and settle, begin when there are no distractions around. Use treats to get them to their bed and gradually increase the length of time you ask them to settle there. Provide long duration edibles, such as stuffed Kongs, to ensure they really enjoy being in their beds. They will probably appreciate the rest after being on watch duty for all this time!
Kennel Cough
- Kennel cough is highly infectious and is easily spread wherever there are
many dogs in one place, such as in kennels or at dog shows. - Kennel cough is spread from minute droplets in the air which are inhaled, or
from direct contact. As well as being infectious during the incubation period of
around 10 days, the disease can still be spread for anything up to 10 weeks
after coughing has ceased. - There is recent evidence to suggest that it can be passed from dog to cat
and vice versa. - The symptoms are sneezing (in the early stages), a cough and nasal
discharges. In severe cases there may be a loss of appetite. - Kennel cough could be compared to human ‘flu' in that whilst it is very
unpleasant, it is rarely fatal. Recovery from symptoms is usually complete in
two to three weeks. However, severe cases in puppies, older dogs and giant
breeds may lead to pneumonia if the condition is not treated, and could lead to
death.
Advocate is an ideal product offering:
Please consult you vet.
- heartworm prevention
- flea and lice treatment and prevention of flea infestations. The product can be also used as part of a treatment strategy for FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis)
- gastrointestinal worm control including several larval stages
- treatment of lungworms in dogs (Angiostrongylus vasorum)
- control of ear mites in cats and dogs
- control of sarcoptic mange in dogs
- control of Demodex mites in dogs
Please consult you vet.
DONT COOK THE DOG RSPCA VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/embed/SK0zxTtHsaQ
Correct details required by law on your dogs id disc:
Your name and address, post code (advisable)
e.g. SMITH
Your telephone number(s) 21 BROWNS ROAD
DAVENTRY
NORTHANTS NN1 2EG
Correct details required by law on your dogs id disc:
Your name and address, post code (advisable)
e.g. SMITH
Your telephone number(s) 21 BROWNS ROAD
DAVENTRY
NORTHANTS NN1 2EG
Bloat occurs when something goes wrong during digestion of food. Something
causes gases to build up in the stomach so fast that the stomach blows up like a
balloon, stretching the organ so much that normal circulation of blood to and
from the heart is cutoff. The stretching itself and the lack of blood to the
stomach’s cells can cause cell death, or necrosis. What makes it even worse and
more immediately serious is when the stomach actually “twists and turns” (known
as volvulus) at the top near the esophagus and at the bottom of the stomach at
the pyloric valve. Picture a tootsie roll candy that’s got a wrapper twisted at
both ends keeping the candy lodged inside the paper. That is exactly what
happens to the stomach during bloat with volvulus. Gas is trapped and can’t
escape as a burp or the other end as “passing gas.” The gas builds and builds as
it becomes trapped within the stomach. The stomach grows so large it cuts off
circulation, as mentioned above, and irreversible damage is done to the cells.
The dog goes into shock and then cardiac arrest. This can happen within several
hours after the start of bloat. That is why if you suspect your dog is
experiencing this problem, you must RUSH THE DOG IMMEDIATELY to the vet or
animal hospital.
What Causes Bloat?
It is not really known
what exactly triggers bloat to occur. Scientists can only make guesses due to
the data taken from dogs that have experienced it. When they’ve tried to
recreate the bloating conditions in a lab with test dogs, they were always
unsuccessful at causing the bloat to occur intentionally.
A
few examples of what scientists believe to be contributing factors to the causes
of bloat are listed below:
1. Large meals eaten at one time. They
recommend serving your dog two smaller meals a day, rather than just one big
one.
2. Rigorous exercise done either right before a meal or right
after one. You should wait one hour before feeding after exercise and one hour
after eating before you let your dog run around.
3. Dry food given that
is high in grain, which causes fermentation during digestion which causes gas.
Dry food should have meat, meat meal and bone meal listed within the first few
ingredients, not grain. In other words, dry food should have more meat than
grain in its ingredients. [some texts claim this is not true, but most do agree
with it.]
4. If only dry food is given, some people moisten it with
water if it is a high-end dog food. However, with lesser quality foods, less
meat-based dog food, the ones that are mostly grains, it is better to NOT wet
the food, since water mixed with grain will start fermentation, a process that
has by-products of gas. But if the food is mostly meat, it's OK, and can
actually help with digestion. Mix dry food with canned food if possible.
5. Gulping large amounts of water at one time during meals. Keep water
within the dog’s reach at all times, except during meals.
6. Be careful
of snacks and biscuits that are high in carbohydrates. Grains are
carbohydrates.
7. Avoid dog food high in citric acid used as a
preservative and also food that is high in fat.
causes gases to build up in the stomach so fast that the stomach blows up like a
balloon, stretching the organ so much that normal circulation of blood to and
from the heart is cutoff. The stretching itself and the lack of blood to the
stomach’s cells can cause cell death, or necrosis. What makes it even worse and
more immediately serious is when the stomach actually “twists and turns” (known
as volvulus) at the top near the esophagus and at the bottom of the stomach at
the pyloric valve. Picture a tootsie roll candy that’s got a wrapper twisted at
both ends keeping the candy lodged inside the paper. That is exactly what
happens to the stomach during bloat with volvulus. Gas is trapped and can’t
escape as a burp or the other end as “passing gas.” The gas builds and builds as
it becomes trapped within the stomach. The stomach grows so large it cuts off
circulation, as mentioned above, and irreversible damage is done to the cells.
The dog goes into shock and then cardiac arrest. This can happen within several
hours after the start of bloat. That is why if you suspect your dog is
experiencing this problem, you must RUSH THE DOG IMMEDIATELY to the vet or
animal hospital.
What Causes Bloat?
It is not really known
what exactly triggers bloat to occur. Scientists can only make guesses due to
the data taken from dogs that have experienced it. When they’ve tried to
recreate the bloating conditions in a lab with test dogs, they were always
unsuccessful at causing the bloat to occur intentionally.
A
few examples of what scientists believe to be contributing factors to the causes
of bloat are listed below:
1. Large meals eaten at one time. They
recommend serving your dog two smaller meals a day, rather than just one big
one.
2. Rigorous exercise done either right before a meal or right
after one. You should wait one hour before feeding after exercise and one hour
after eating before you let your dog run around.
3. Dry food given that
is high in grain, which causes fermentation during digestion which causes gas.
Dry food should have meat, meat meal and bone meal listed within the first few
ingredients, not grain. In other words, dry food should have more meat than
grain in its ingredients. [some texts claim this is not true, but most do agree
with it.]
4. If only dry food is given, some people moisten it with
water if it is a high-end dog food. However, with lesser quality foods, less
meat-based dog food, the ones that are mostly grains, it is better to NOT wet
the food, since water mixed with grain will start fermentation, a process that
has by-products of gas. But if the food is mostly meat, it's OK, and can
actually help with digestion. Mix dry food with canned food if possible.
5. Gulping large amounts of water at one time during meals. Keep water
within the dog’s reach at all times, except during meals.
6. Be careful
of snacks and biscuits that are high in carbohydrates. Grains are
carbohydrates.
7. Avoid dog food high in citric acid used as a
preservative and also food that is high in fat.
